My name is Alice Bowens and I worked for The Port Authority of NY & NJ on 9/11/2001 (permanent) as well as on 2.26.1993 when I was a temp and had to type the letters to the victims families.

I need to share my story to have peace of mind.

2.26.1993, I was a temp at the Port Authority of NY & NJ and was to have lunch with my son who I was to meet in the lobby. Around 12:30 pm we went through the concourse doors and heard a BOOM, and when we looked back all we saw was a flash of white light coming from the inner entry way to the Marriot Hotel. We still had no idea what happened. Going through the revolving doors onto the concourse we saw nothing but smoke coming from the escalators that led from the PATH trains to the concourse, as well as people crawling through the smoke. It was a snowy day and the Port Authority Security at that time advised everyone to LEAVE THE BUILDING.

Flash Forward to 9.11.2001

I got the alerts that there was to be an attack on NY, but in my mind I thought AINT GONNA HAPPEN, so I went to work.

I got to work on a voting day, very strange day, went to the cafeteria, got my breakfast and went to my desk. Felt very strange though!

At about 8:30 I got a call about giving my boss a message about VECTOR. I am a SyFy person, so that name caused my nerves to rise. Not a problem, I thought, let me put this message on my boss’ desk. And then, ALL HELL BROUGHT LOOSE.

WHAT WAS THAT SOUND? WHAT IS THAT FALLING PASS THE WINDOW? WHY IS THIS BUILDING SWAYING? AND - omg we’re dead.

I remember one of my co-workers gathering us and saying let’s get out of here or we are really DEAD.

We got out of the building. The rest is HISTORY.

I will ever forget the faces of the responders who helped us and got us out of the building, as well as those outside. Some who I spoke to, I know never survived. THEY DID THEY’RE DUTY regardless.

I want to share additional pictures that were taken inside 1 World Trade Center before its demise: